FIRST YEARS OF SUCCESS. 129 



utterly separated from civilization, the whistle 

 of an arrow would not surprise us the shout 

 of a savage before he hurled his spear would 

 seem natural, and in keeping. What are those 

 strange clattering noises, like the sound of 

 men fighting with wooden ' back-swords'? 

 Now it is near now far off a spreading 

 battle seems to be raging all round, but the 

 combatants are out of sight. But, gently 

 step lightly, and avoid placing the foot on 

 dead sticks, which break with a loud crack 

 softly peep round the trunk of this noble oak, 

 whose hard furrowed bark defends it like 

 armour. The red deer ! Two splendid stags 

 are fighting, fighting for their lady-love, the 

 timid doe. They rush at each other with head 

 down and horns extended the horns meet 

 and rattle they fence with them skilfully. 

 This was the cause of the noise. It is the 

 tilting season these tournaments between the 

 knights of the forest are going on all around. 

 There is just a trifle of danger in approaching 

 these combatants, but not much, just enough 

 to make the forest still more enticing; none 

 whatever to those who use common caution. 



9 



